Herpetetrone nanosuspensions enhance drug solubility and bioavailability to improve anti-hepatic fibrosis effects

The aim of this study was to enhance the dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of herpetetrone (HPT) by preparing nanosuspensions (NSs) and evaluate the changes in its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect. Herpetetrone nanosuspension (HPT-NS) was prepared using the ultrasound-precipitation technique, and characterised on the basis of mean diameter, zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency percent (EE%), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). In addition, the pharmacokinetics and anti-hepatic fibrosis activity were evaluated. HPT-NS prepared with the optimised formulation was found to be spherical with mean diameter of 177.48 ± 6.13 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.108 ± 0.002 and ZP of -17.28 ± 2.02 mV. The EE (m/m, %) was 83.25 ± 0.27. XRPD analyses confirmed that the amorphous state of HPT in HPT-NS remained unchanged. The dissolution rate of HPT-NS was significantly higher than that of HPT coarse suspensions (HPT-CSs). Following oral administration, Cmax and AUC0-t of HPT-NS showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). In vitro, HPT inhibited the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells and induced apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of Bax proteins and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and TGF-β1 proteins. Compared with HPT-CS, HPT-NS exhibited a more pronounced anti-fibrotic effect. HPT-NS, as a new drug formulation designed to improve the solubility and bioavailability of the drug, shows promising potential in enhancing the anti-liver fibrosis effect.